This blog (created in March 2011 by Lucky) is about new entrants to the Colombo Medical Faculty of the University of Ceylon (as it was then known) in June 1962. There were a total of 166 in the batch (included 11 from Peradeniya). Please address all communications to: colmedgrads1962@gmail.com. Header image: Courtesy Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (2011 - 2014). Please use the search bar using a keyword to access what interests you
I love looking through the
batch signature photographs on the blog. They bring back memories of the “way
we were” all those years ago.
I remember Jupiter Moonemalle more vividly from my
Kurunegala days than from our time at the Faculty. I interned at the Kurunegala
Hospital and spent a further two years on the edge of the so-called Dry Zone.
During that time, Jupiter was often seen visiting friends and family at the
hospital. Whenever our paths crossed, we would pause to chat and reminisce.
When I looked through the signature photographs on the
blog, I simply could not find Jupiter’s photograph. That prompted me to make an
effort to trace him through the internet.
Jupiter belonged to the prominent Moonemalle family of
Kurunegala, a historic family with a long tradition of social and civic
standing in the North Western Province. His family hailed from the village of
Moonemalle in the Kurunegala District. He attended St. Anne’s College,
Kurunegala, and remained deeply loyal to his alma mater, eventually serving as
President of its Old Boys’ Association.
Jupiter went on to specialise in Sexually Transmitted
Diseases and devoted his professional life to serving the people of Kurunegala.
He also maintained a private practice in the city. He used his knowledge and
professional standing to design and conduct public awareness programmes
addressing important social and health issues affecting the people of the North
Western Province. Through his dedication and service, Jupiter made an immense
contribution to healthcare in Kurunegala and earned the respect of the community.
 |
| A more recent photo I got from FB-Mahen |
In astrology Jupiter is the planet of good fortune,
expansion, abundance, philosophy and wisdom. His parents have chosen his name
wisely.
Despite his standing as a senior doctor and his distinguished family background, Jupiter is remembered by many in Kurunegala for something far more enduring—his humility, simplicity, and down-to-earth demeanour.
May he find eternal peace.
This photo of Galle Interns 1968 is from Kumar Gunawardane. Jupiter is standing fifth from the Left between Kumar and SR De Silva.
From Kumar's post: Seated L-R: Ranjan Fernando, Amitha Samarakoon, Vasantha Thuraisingham, Maldeniya, ?????, Rohini Abhayaratne, Vipula Aryasinghe, Dharmani Perera, Sriani Dissanayake, Chitra Perera, Rohini Senaratne, Swarna Withane, DR Ramyasiri
Standing L-R: Percy Karunatilake, Siddique Cassim, ???, S.R. (Sunna) de Silva, Jupiter Moonemale, Kumar Gunawardene, M.Viswanathan, Byrd Gunasekara, ????????, PG Cooray, Daya Mudannayake, Ranjit Jayawardene, Lakshman Thenuwara, Fulgentius, DSC Attale
THE FIRST SET OF EIGHT TABLE MATS WERE CROSS-STITCHED
Cross-stitch material was used.
A Twig of Roses was cross-stitched on the left side of the table mat.
Enlarged view
A two-inch-wide green ribbon was folded and sewn at the margin with cotton material to cover the back.
Completed Cross Stitched Table mat
Eight cross-stitched table mats on the table
THE SECOND SET OF TABLE MATS WERE DONE WITH HARDANGER EMBROIDERY
After sewing two Hardanger table mats, it was published in our Batch Blog on the 22nd of October 2025.
You
may see this by clicking on this Link :-https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2025/10/hardanger-embroidery-dr-cd-jayaweera.html
Hardanger Embroidery is a beautiful Norwegian Embroidery that has counted thread and cutwork. That means that the stitches are made by counting the threads and making them in regular, even sizes on the fabric, and some of the background fabric is cut away.
Hardanger is a traditional cultural region in Vestland county, Western Norway, and the Hardangerfjord is the magnificent, 179-kilometer-long waterway that defines and dominates the area. Often affectionately nicknamed the "Queen of the Fjords," this region is celebrated worldwide for its dramatic natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and thriving agricultural traditions.
Modern Hardanger fabric is a even weave cotton material woven with pairs of threads typically 22 pairs of threads, typically 22 pairs per linear inch in both directions, referred to as 22-count.
Hardanger embroidery is difficult to do; it needs a lot of concentration, patience, and it is time-consuming. It is important to count the sewing threads - always 5 and the fabric threads- 4. If it is not done correctly, the fabric cannot be cut properly, and the threads cannot be removed. It is important to check the above regularly and unpick if there is a mistake like doing cross stitching.
Hardanger fabric, a Tapestry needle (blunt tip), a 12-inch diameter circular frame and fine scissors are used.
I am so happy that I was able to complete eight Hardanger embroidery table mats.
The next step was to apply shirt collar stiffening material to the back of each table mat and iron it so that the table mat would be stiff.
Seen
below on the left.
.
Shirt collar stiffening material applied to the back of each table mat and ironed to make it stiff. See above on the right.
Eight
Hardanger Embroidery Table mats completed
Note: The motifs are slightly different in the table mats at the two extreme ends.
Enlarged view to appreciate the intricate embroidery
Hardanger Embroidery is extremely difficult to do. I nearly gave up. It requires sheer perseverance and self-determination, and these qualities drove me to complete the eight Hardanger embroidery table mats.
Footnote by Speedy about Hardanger Embroidery
Hardanger embroidery directly originates from the Hardanger region of Norway. While its roots trace back to ancient Mediterranean needlework styles that traveled through Europe via trade routes, the technique was isolated and uniquely perfected by women living along the Hardangerfjord between 1650 and 1850. It evolved into a distinctive national craft, traditionally used to embellish linen aprons, collars, and cuffs for the bunad (the Norwegian folk costume). What makes Hardanger embroidery so special is its stunning combination of geometric precision and openwork lace effects. Unlike freeform surface embroidery, it is a highly structured technique defined by several unique elements
How to access the Blog
You need a Browser to access the blog. The common ones are Google Chrome (by Google), Safari (by Apple), Microsoft Edge (by Microsoft), Mozilla Firefox.
Google chrome is the most widely used (and Safari if you are an Apple user).
To access the blog, open the browser (click on the Google icon) and type Colombo Medgrads 1962.
This will bring a result such as:-
https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/
Press Ctrl+Click on it to open the blog.
How to trace an old post
The easiest way to trace an old post is to type a keyword in the blank bar right at the top of the page (as I have shown with an arrow in the picture) and click on the "search" area on the right side
Posting a comment.
Here is a useful method suitable for most.
At the end of every posting, you will see this:- Posted by Mahendra (Lucky for old posts) (and time. e.g., 1:20am) followed by No comment if there are no comments, or as 1 comment or 2 comments etc according to number of comments.
1. Now move your mouse cursor over the light blue "no comment. or 2 comments etc. area and left-click the mouse button.
You should now see "Comment as ", with a boxed window where it says "Enter your comment".
Below that you will see- "Comment as" and a small black arrow on the right side. Click on the arrow, and it will open a window which says: " Select your profile.(with options: Google, Anonymous or Name/URL). If you have a Google Chrome account, you can click on Google. Otherwise, click on Anonymous and start typing your comment by first giving your name on the comment. If you don’t give your name, it will appear as anonymous and readers won’t know who you are)
(You will also notice a “Notify me”, and if you are a Google Chrome user, click on it and you will get an email with your comment.)
Type your comment and click on “Publish”. That’s it!
I strongly advise you to copy your comment to a Word document or similar, as sometimes, for no valid reason, the comment does not get published (it says the comment is published if it works), and you have lost your hard work! For long comments, I always do it in Word and then copy and paste the comment to avoid this.
Crux of a titanic legacy: A panegyric accolade to Emeritus Professor Sanath P. Lamabadusuriya
Dr LakKumar Fernando, senior paediatrician and one
whose paediatric career was shaped by the man
Dr B. J. C. Perera, senior paediatrician and
long-standing professional colleague of the man
There are some whose names become so deeply entwined with
the history of a profession that it becomes impossible to provide a realistic
account of it without acknowledging their superlative contributions. In Sri
Lankan paediatrics, Emeritus Professor Sanath P. Lamabadusuriya undoubtedly
occupies such a hallowed place. We could write reams about the man and still
fall well short of doing justice to his sparkling career.
We write this appreciation not simply to recount the many
positions he has held, the awards he has received or the extraordinary
achievements. Those impressive accomplishments speak for themselves. We write
because we believe that it is vital to honour great individuals while they are
still amongst us.
One of us, LakKumar Fernando, encountered Prof.
Lamabadusuriya when he was a medical student. That influential encounter proved
pivotal. Indeed, it would be no exaggeration to say that, had Dr LakKumar
Fernando not encountered Prof. Lamabadusuriya during his early years as a
medical student, he may not have become a paediatrician.
The other author, B.J.C. Perera, has known Prof.
Lamabadusuriya as a senior student at the Colombo Medical Faculty, as a
contemporary, a colleague and a fellow paediatrician. Their professional lives
ran alongside for even more than a decade and a half, working together at
Colombo’s Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. Such a long association provides
a unique opportunity to bear witness not only to the achievements of a great
paediatrician but also to the person behind them: as a colleague, clinician, teacher,
professional leader and, above all, as a close friend.
Thus, this tribute represents two generations and two
perspectives: one from someone whose professional life was profoundly
influenced by an inspiring teacher at a formative stage and the other from a
close contemporary and colleague. Yet, despite these different perspectives, we
arrive at the same conclusion. Prof. Sanath P. Lamabadusuriya is one of the
truly great figures in the history of Sri Lankan paediatrics.
In 49 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon and famously
declared, “Alea iacta est”, which means “the die has been cast”. When Sanath
Punsara Lamabadusuriya was born on December 30, 1942, into a family whose
surname began with “Lama”, meaning child, perhaps the die was indeed cast.
Destiny may well have decreed that he would become a paediatrician. Be that as
it may, the rest is history.
His career has been extraordinary in both breadth and
duration. Following his early training in Sri Lanka and subsequent exposure to
paediatrics and paediatric gastroenterology in the United Kingdom, he returned
to devote the greater part of his professional life to the advancement of
paediatrics, medical education and child health in this country.
One of his most enduring contributions was his role as the
founder professor and head of the Department of Paediatrics at the Faculty of
Medicine, University of Ruhuna. In a developing new faculty, he established
foundations upon which generations of doctors and paediatricians would
subsequently build their careers. He later served as senior professor and head
of the Department of Paediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of
Colombo, and subsequently dean of that faculty. For many, reaching even one of
these positions would represent the pinnacle of a professional life. For Prof.
Lamabadusuriya, they were simply milestones in a larger journey.
He has been a clinician, teacher, researcher, mentor,
examiner, administrator and leader. He contributed substantially to the
development of postgraduate paediatric training in Sri Lanka and played an
important role in shaping generations of paediatricians as Chairman of the
Board of Study in Paediatrics and Chief Examiner for postgraduate examinations.
His leadership extended well beyond universities and
hospitals. He served as President of the Sri Lanka Paediatric Association,
President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and subsequently President of
the Asia Pacific Paediatric Association. His expertise was sought nationally
and internationally, and he contributed to important initiatives relating to
child health, immunisation and medical education, including work with the World
Health Organisation.
The recognition he received internationally reflected the
esteem in which he was held. His MBE, bestowed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
II in 1991, was an exceptional recognition for a Sri Lankan medical
professional. His academic distinctions and fellowships from leading medical
institutions further testify to the international standing he achieved while
remaining deeply committed to the development of medicine in Sri Lanka.
His contribution to research has also been remarkable, with
approximately 140 publications in national and international peer-reviewed
journals.
Another important, less widely known chapter of his career
was his role as co-director of the Sri Lanka Cleft Lip and Palate Project,
together with Dr Michael Mars of the UK. This collaboration resulted in the
creation of the world’s largest database of unoperated cleft lips and palates,
together with important benefits for affected children and families. He was
also instrumental in establishing the Diploma course in Speech Therapy at the
University of Kelaniya, which has since helped produce much-needed speech
therapists for the country.
However, impressive as these achievements may be, neither
academic degrees nor professional titles can adequately explain the true
influence of Prof. Lamabadusuriya. The real legacy of a great teacher lies not
in the positions he occupies but in the people he inspires. In that sense,
Prof. Lamabadusuriya has inspired generations.
For some, he was a colleague who worked beside them at the
Lady Ridgeway Hospital, sharing the challenges and responsibilities of caring
for sick children. For others, he was an accomplished academic whose teachings
opened their eyes to the beauty, responsibility and intellectual challenge of
paediatrics. For many, he was a mentor. For countless others, he became a
standard against which the profession measured academic excellence,
professional commitment and service.
The life story of Prof. Lamabadusuriya is also a reminder
that the influence of a great teacher can change the course of an individual’s
life. There are moments in the lives of young medical students when an
encounter with an inspiring teacher determines the direction of an entire
career. For one of us, Prof. Lamabadusuriya was precisely such an influence.
That is one of the greatest gifts a teacher can give: not simply knowledge, but
inspiration; not merely teaching a subject, but inspiring someone to dedicate
his or her life to it.
Even more remarkable has been Prof. Lamabadusuriya’s
continuing commitment to medicine and medical education beyond the years when
most people would have chosen to retire. He retired on September 30, 2025,
after an extraordinary 56 years and six months in academic paediatrics, during
which he taught three generations of medical students and treated three
generations of numerous Sri Lankan families. His service as a visiting senior
professor and consultant at the Universities of Rajarata and Sabaragamuwa after
his retirement from the Colombo faculty demonstrated that his commitment to
teaching and developing paediatrics remained undiminished. The DSc awarded by
Sabaragamuwa University and the Lifetime Achievement Award, with automatic
induction into the Hall of Fame of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians in
2025, were fitting acknowledgements of a lifetime of extraordinary service.
Yet perhaps the greatest recognition does not come in the
form of an award. It is found in the institutions he helped to build; in the
generations of medical students and junior doctors he taught; in the
paediatricians he trained and influenced; and in the colleagues who had the
privilege of working alongside him. Ultimately, it is found in the countless
children and families whose lives have benefited, directly or indirectly, from
the contribution of one man over several decades.
As two paediatricians from different generations and
different professional relationships with Prof. Lamabadusuriya, one as a person
whose career in paediatrics was profoundly influenced by him and the other as a
contemporary and long-standing colleague, we feel privileged to join our voices
in paying this tribute.
We have both witnessed, in different ways, the extraordinary
influence that one dedicated individual can have on a profession. In Sri Lanka,
we sometimes tend to recognise our great teachers and pioneers only after they
are no longer with us. We then write tributes, deliver memorial orations and
recall the magnitude of their contributions. Perhaps we should do more while
they are still here. We should celebrate greatness while we can still shake the
hand of the person we honour. We should express our gratitude while they can
hear it. We should tell them that their sacrifices mattered and that the
generations who followed have not forgotten the foundations they laid.
Professor Sanath P. Lamabadusuriya has given an
extraordinary lifetime to children, paediatrics, medical education, research
and the development of the medical profession in Sri Lanka. For us, and for
countless others, he represents much more than an eminent paediatrician. He
represents a generation of physicians who believed that professional excellence
carried with it a responsibility to teach, build institutions, mentor others
and leave the profession stronger than they found it.
Both of us, the writers of this piece, have openly argued
with the good professor about many things, sometimes even in public, but we
have never raised our voices against each other. We believe that reasoning and
courage need not be expressed at higher decibel levels. If evidence was
provided to support a position, he would accept it, and we reciprocated in the
same manner. Over the years, we have tacitly agreed even to disagree without
being disagreeable. That perhaps reveals something important about the man.
Behind the imposing academic credentials and formidable professional
achievements was someone who remained approachable, reasonable and, above all,
profoundly human.
Today, while we still have the privilege of doing so, we
salute him.
Dear Professor, thank you for your lifetime of service.
Thank you for the institutions you helped build. Thank you for the generations
of doctors and paediatricians you have taught and inspired. Thank you for your
leadership, scholarship and unwavering commitment to the children of Sri Lanka.
Most importantly, thank you for reminding us, through your own life, what a
lifetime in medicine can truly mean. This great man is not merely a
distinguished paediatrician of Sri Lanka. He is part of the living history of
our profession: a teacher, colleague, mentor and inspiration, whose legacy will
continue to resonate through time immemorial.
So, from two colleagues privileged to know him from two very
different stages of his remarkable journey, we offer our deepest respect,
admiration and gratitude.
Long may Prof. Sanath P. Lamabadusuriya continue to inspire
Sri Lankan paediatrics.
This tribute to our illustrious Batchmate was published in the Sunday Times. Sri Lanka.- Speedy -
Maheswary attended our London Minireunions organised by Pram whenever she could.
I am adding appreciations as they come. The first one is from Nihal
Speedy Mahen Gonsalkorale.
 |
| London 2022- Maheswary 7th from Left |
Appreciations
(1) Nihal (ND) Amarasekera
I was simply lost in the moment when I received the sad news of the passing of my dear friend, Maheswari. Throughout our professional lives, we remained in touch, sharing both the good times and the difficult ones. I look back now with wistful nostalgia, saddened that yet another dear friend has faded into the distance.
With our surnames at opposite ends of the alphabet, I hardly got to know Maheswari during our days at medical school. It was only later, during our sojourn in England as émigrés, that we both found our way into the specialty of radiology. We met again at conferences and professional meetings, and it was there that we came to know each other well.
After I was appointed to a consultancy, Maheswari undertook many locum appointments at my hospital, often covering for my colleagues during their summer holidays. Those years brought us closer, and it was then that our friendship grew into a lifelong bond.
The untimely death of her husband brought immense sadness to Maheswari and her family. Yet she showed remarkable courage and resilience, weathering the storms of life and devoting herself to bringing up her children. She gave them a loving and happy home and ensured that they received a good education.
Maheswari was one of the kindest people I have ever known. She was courteous, scrupulously honest, and always ready to lend a helping hand. She was a truly remarkable friend—humble, principled, and guided by a deep sense of integrity and quiet pride. I shall greatly miss her warmth and friendship. She will always be remembered with deep affection and profound respect.
We continued to speak regularly on the telephone, discussing mutual friends, the ups and downs of our lives, and, with a touch of humour, the indignities that come with ageing. Those conversations are memories I shall treasure.
It was the Faculty of Medicine in Colombo that gave us the foundation upon which our professional and personal lives were built. Maheswari was deeply conscious of this bond and felt a strong sense of passion and loyalty towards our medical school batch. Despite the distance, she made the effort to attend some of our reunions in London, where we were able to renew old friendships and reminisce about our younger days.
Hers was truly a life well lived—a life marked by courage, kindness, integrity, and devotion to her family and friends.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family at this time of profound grief. May Maheswari rest in eternal peace, a peace she so richly deserves.
(2) Vasanthy Thuraisingham
Oh! I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear that Mahes has passed away so suddenly. She had been in touch with me off & on and promised to somehow see me if she came to SL with her children. She & I were in school together - Holy Family Convent. Her sister Balasaras was also with us. I feel very sad that I didn't even know that she was sick. She was such a nice, kind-hearted person. May her sweet soul rest in Peace!
(3) Suri Amarasekera
I am saddened to hear of Mahes' s sudden and unexpected demise. Being not so distant in our seating order ( K & S )in the Block , I had plenty of opportunity to interact with her. I remember our chats in the girls' Common Room, her gentle ways, charming personality and her infectious chuckle .
Regrettably, I had lost touch with her completely after graduation. It's so sad that she was unable to join us for our many reunions in SL. I was also saddened to learn that she lost her husband early and had to bring up her precious children alone. It's wonderful that har daughter is now following her footsteps.Goodbye, my dear friend. May you find Eternal Peace and Rest.
With my fondest love Suri.
(4) Chirasri
I feel so sad that Maheshwary too has left us. I was friendly with her during College days. I remember her as a lovely person. I lost contact after passing out.
My condolences to her family, and may she rest in peace.
Chira
(5) Susheila Thiagarajah
Very sorry to hear the sad news
Mahes has been a good friend of mine for over 50 yrs. We grew up together from childhood to Medical school.
We have continued our friendship until now
Shall miss her tremendously
May her soul rest in peace
(6) Vanitha Palaniappan (Shanmugavadivel)
Was shocked to hear the sad news about Mahes. So sad.She was a dear friend of mine. I last spoke to her last week she was very lively and was looking forward to her visit to Srilanka in October.
She is very family-oriented, always talking about her grandkids.May her soul rest in peace
(7) Dhushyanthi Vedavanam.
I was very saddened to hear that Mahes passed away. Sivakumar used to speak about her and her husband. He held her in the highest regard. I got to know her at the reunions, and I found her a gentle, kind-hearted person. My deepest sympathies to her family.
May she attain Moksha. Om Namasivaya.Dhushy
(8) Shanty Nalliah
Very sorry to hear the sad news. Only last year we had a long chat on the phone about our time at medical College! Mahes is a very pleasant, friendly girl. My heartfelt condolences to her family. Shanthy.
(9) Swyrie Balendra.
I remember Mahes well though I haven’t met her in a long long time. Yes, she was a lovely person. My thoughts are with her family.
(10) Srianee Dias.
Mahes was a lovely person. Condolences to her family and friends. May she Rest in Peace.
(11) Harischandra Boralessa
Very sad to hear that Mahes had passed away; she was a lovely person.I remember her very well; during our medical school days, we lived at the Bambalapitiya flats. From time to time, we used to meet at our batch reunions and enjoyed recalling the interesting times at the Faculty
(12) Indra Anandasabapathy
Will miss another wonderful person I had spoken to weeks ago on the phone. She seemed fine then.
(13) Rohini Anandarajah
My sincere condolences to Mahes’ family including her grandkids she loved.
I had the good fortune to connect with Mahes a few years ago through Nihal (ND)’s kindness .
She shared her life story with me and the grief she still bore with the untimely loss of her beloved husband -her teenage sweetheart. She was a source of great comfort to me in my own grief and will live in my heart.
May she find eternal bliss.
(14) Kumar Gunawardena
My sincere condolences to the family of Maheswary. I remember her as a gracious young lady with a warm smile who got onto the red double decker bus which took us to the Eye Hospital junction. She along with a few others would board at the Bambalapitiya flats into our common conveyance which transported us in a timely fashion to the physiology lectures. The images that Mahen has posted depict her kindly disposition faithfully. May God grant her eternal rest and perpetual light shine upon her.
SPEEDY DIALOGUE SERIES- EPISODE 11. WITH RANJIT KARIYAWASAM
Speedy: Good morning, Ranjit. I have to get used to
calling you Ranjit after years of calling you Kari!
Ranjit: No worries, Speedy! Do people still call you
Speedy, or do they use your proper name, Mahendra?
Speedy: They use both! For this interview, I don’t
mind if you call me Speedy.
Ranjit: As you wish, Speedy.
Speedy: Thanks, Ranjit. Let us get down to it. We met
after a long lapse of time in London for a mini reunion gathering in Gants Hill
on the 7th of September 2024 to welcome Chira Jayaweera Bandara, congratulate her daughter Anjali on gaining her Fellowship in Ophthalmology, and wish them both well. The venue was the Mandarin Palace, a plush Chinese
restaurant. Chira was in the UK to attend the award ceremony for the fellowship
graduation.
(link for London meeting in blog:Reunion gathering-in-london-to-greet-chirasri.html#comment-form
Ranjit: Yes, I recall it very well. I came with my
wife Hemanthi, and after the meal, we took Chira back to our house in Essex.
Speedy: And we met again on the 4th of July 2025 at
the iconic Royal Society of Medicine in London at a mini-reunion organised by
Pram.
 |
| Pram's RSM meeting with R and Hemanthi |
Ranjith: Yes, Speedy. That was my first attendance of Pram’s London reunions.
Speedy: That’s right, and recently, Chira and I were
chatting on WhatsApp, and she told me about your skills as a sculptor, and she
sent me some photographs of your work. This was a total surprise, and I was
amazed at your skill!
Ranjit: Thanks, Speedy. I am flattered that you
thought they were good
Speedy: Good? More than that, I thought they were
outstanding for an amateur! Chira suggested that I should post them on the blog
and I got the idea that the best way to do this is through my “Speedy Dialogue”
which I have done for many of our batchmates.
Ranjit: I have seen your interviews, and we must thank
you for your efforts. I am only too
happy to consent to one if you think it will be appreciated.
Speedy: Great! We shall do it, and please send me more
photographs of your work. Let us start by discussing some background material.
Ranjit: Fine by me.
Speedy: Good. We were in the same 1962 batch, and I
always remember you as a rather shy person with spiky hair combed backwards, wearing specs, and riding a red Moto Guzzi bike! I hope you approve of my constructed image of you on your Moto Guzzi!
Ranjit: That virtual image is pretty good, Speedy! I don’t know about being shy! Yes, I was very fond of my motorbike. Many others had red Moto Guzzis, as you know, Speedy.
Speedy: Indeed. Nalin Nanayakkara, Ranjit Dambawinna,
who else?
Ranjit: Yes, Ranjit Dambawinna did have one before he sold
it and bought a Volkswagen Beetle.
Speedy: I can remember that Beetle car. My father and
Ranjit D’s father were friends, and I knew Ranjit before he entered the Faculty.
Speedy: Let's move on Ranjit. As you know, I eventually came and settled down in England. What was your path? And, when did you get married to lovely Hemanthi?
Ranjit: We met at the Medical College in the Pharmacy Dept in my final year. She was a final-year pharmacy student then. We both got our first appointments at Badulla General Hospital (my internship). In May 1969, I got married to Hemanthi. Then we both got appointments at Mulleriyawa Hospital, and I did Psychiatry there for another two years. Then, Hemanthi started work at LRH.
Speedy: And then you came to England?
Ranjit: Yes. I
arrived in England in 1974 and started life as a senior house officer at Battle
Hospital in Reading, UK. Then moved to Ramsgate Hospital. From there, Beaumont
Hospital in Lancaster. When I obtained my MRCP. I moved back to the South of
England, to Battle Hospital.
Speedy: I understand you worked with Ranjit
Dambawinna. How did that happen?
Ranjit. After working in hospitals up to that time, I
decided to join general practice, as I wanted a stable residence to give my two sons a better education. Following one year’s training, I joined Ranjith Dambawinna’s group Practice as a partner in Grays, Essex.
Speedy: What happened after that?
Ranjit: After a few years, I started my own Practice and carried on until my retirement in 2008.
Speedy: Moving on to your family, I met your wife Hemanthi at a Batch Reunion. I gather you have two sons. Are they doctors too?
Ranjit: No, they were wiser! My elder son is Adisha, a lecturer at BPP University (one of the UK's leading Law Schools) in Business and Project Management, and an Awards Leader.
My younger son is Rukshan, who works as Head of Housing Assets and Capital Management in Ealing Council.
Speedy: You must be super proud of them! Thank you, and now, going back to your skills as a sculptor, could you tell us how it all started? How old were you when you
did your first, and who and what influenced you?
Ranjit: I was really interested from my childhood.
Speedy: Did you have any training in sculpture?
Ranjit: No, I did not have any training or lessons. It was a natural talent
Speedy: Most interesting. I thought your father may
have influenced you?
Ranjit: No, my father was not into sculpture.
Speedy: What material do you use, and do you have a workshop?
Ranjit: I use gypsum, concrete, cement, paper pulp, wires, glue, and sometimes ripped old cloth and ribbons. I haven't got a workshop as such but use the spare room (which is a converted Garage)
Speedy: With your busy life as a doctor, how did you
manage to continue with your interest to this day?
Ranjit: After my retirement, I limited my work to a few locum sessions a week and had more free time. So I started doing sculpture work. I was keen and enjoyed it. My main interest was in objects related to a Buddhist background. I am happily settled down in Grays, Essex and my wife supports me and encourages me.
Speedy: A
supportive wife is an undoubted asset!
Ranjit: Absolutely! She helps in so many ways with my
sculpture work, especially in cleaning and tidying!
Speedy: Let us discuss some of your work. Which is
the sculpture you are most proud of?
Ranjit: My best sculpture is the Bo tree that I did at Thames Buddhist Vihara in Croydon in the year 2002. I am grateful to my wife, who made around 900 bo-shape leaves and painted them to give a natural look, and also to my son Adisha, who painted the tree and the background scene.
Speedy: It looks beautiful, and I must visit it one day. Are you an artist too?
Ranjit: No, Speedy. I am not an artist, just a keen sculptor.
Speedy: I am showing some more examples of your sculptures. I have two pictures, each showing two sculptures. The first one shows a sister reading to a brother, and the second an elephant. The next one shows a magnificent statue in a garden, and the second shows a violinist and an accordionist.
Ranjit: Yes, they gave me immense pleasure and satisfaction.
 |
| The top left statue with a dress painted. |
Ranjit: Thanks, Speedy. They are all small tabletop models.
Ranjit: It keeps me from getting bored and also gives me immense pleasure when I look at the finished product. Not only me, but many others appreciate it too. It is indeed a very satisfying hobby. I too
like music like you, but sculpture is my favourite. As we get older, it is so
important to have creative hobbies. You, Speedy, have music and art among other things,
and I have my sculpting. I would encourage all my colleagues to indulge in at
least one hobby that they enjoy. Enjoy is the key word; good or not is by the
way!
Speedy: I agree with you entirely Ranjit. As you said,
I am fond of drawing and music, and these many interests have given me sanity
and, fortunately, not vanity!.... I hope!
Ranjit: We admire your talents and do keep at it, and
please share your work as you have done. The blog that Lucky started and that you maintain is a great way to share.
Speedy: Thank you, Ranjit. I am always pleased to
share the talents of our Batchmates. Chira, Yankee Bala, Suri, Lucky Weerasooriya,Srianee(Bunter), Zita, Sujatha Maligaspe, Nihal (ND) are just a few who have contributed. Please continue your interest,
and I am very grateful to you for agreeing to be interviewed.
Ranjit: My pleasure, Speedy, and thanks for inviting me.
Speedy: Any final words from you Ranjit?
Ranjit: Just to say thank you for giving me a chance
to show my hard work that keeps me going at my age in reasonable health.
Speedy: And that concludes another Speedy Dialogue
